MOUNTAIN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTRE

Mountain Agricultural Research Centre (MARC) is the first ever research establishment formed by PARC for improving agricultural productivity in Gilgit-Baltistan. The Centre initiated to work as a research station in 1984 with it’s headquarter at Juglote, the junction point of three mighty mountain ranges, the Himalayas, the Karakuram and the Hinduksh. The station was upgraded as institute in 1988 and then as Center in 2008.

Gilgit-Baltistan covers an area of 72498 km2, 94% of which consists of mountains. Only 1% of this area is under cultivation. Other important land uses include forests (4%), range lands (56%) and cultivable waste (1%). Agro-forestry and horticulture are other significant land uses in the region. Medicinal plants, livestock and inland fisheries are the potential resources for rural livelihood improvement and economic up lift of the area. The Gilgit-Baltistan based on altitude and climatic conditions has been decided into two major cropping zones i.e. high altitude single cropping zone and the lower altitude double cropping zone.

Basic function of MARC is to conduct research in all sectors of agriculture to improve the agricultural productivity in Gilgit-Baltistan and generate opportunities for livelihood of poor farmers of the least developed remote area. MARC has recently been re-organized with distinct programmes to address the issues related to crops, natural resources, livestock and fisheries.

Resourse Person:

Mr. Sher Ahmed, Director General

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